"What car was the mostdistinctivein each state? What model of car did, say, California buy far more often than any other state in the Union? We turned to auto analyst Tom Libby ofIHS Automotiveto help us crunch the numbers. First, Libby pulled data about the make and model of every car sold in the U.S., and calculated the popularity of each by percentage using registration data. Then, he did the same at the state level, and compared each state to the national average.

"I compared the share for each model in, for instance, Alabama with the share of the same of model in the United States and came up with a ratio," says Libby. "Then I basically ranked those ratios within each state. It's an interesting methodology—you're basically able to compare the individual demand of a model in a state with the individual demand at the national level, and see what ways is each state unique from the nation."

Some states seem to conform to stereotypes—Texas loves the hulking Cadillac Escalade EXT, NPR-loving New England enjoys their Volvos, and in the rough country of North Dakota they love the GMC Yukon Denali XL. But there are surprises: Georgia, for instance, seems to have a thing for Nissan Leaf. "Georgia had very, very strong incentives to buy electric vehicles," says Libby, referencing the fact that until very recently, the Peach State offered $5,000 in state tax credits (in addition to $7,500 in federal tax credits) to anyone who boughtan electric vehicle. In other words, everyone who bough a Nissan Leaf in Georgia saved themselves a cool $12,500.

"The data does reveal interesting patterns," says Libby. "And because based on registration data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, it's census data. It's not sample based. It's not something where I think it's this, you think it's that. It's hard data. It's irrefutable." In other words: if you're not pleased with your state's unofficial state car, blame your neighbors, not the numbers."

"What car was the mostdistinctivein each state? What model of car did, say, California buy far more often than any other state in the Union? We turned to auto analyst Tom Libby ofIHS Automotiveto help us crunch the numbers. First, Libby pulled data about the make and model of every car sold in the U.S., and calculated the popularity of each by percentage using registration data. Then, he did the same at the state level, and compared each state to the national average.

"I compared the share for each model in, for instance, Alabama with the share of the same of model in the United States and came up with a ratio," says Libby. "Then I basically ranked those ratios within each state. It's an interesting methodology—you're basically able to compare the individual demand of a model in a state with the individual demand at the national level, and see what ways is each state unique from the nation."

Some states seem to conform to stereotypes—Texas loves the hulking Cadillac Escalade EXT, NPR-loving New England enjoys their Volvos, and in the rough country of North Dakota they love the GMC Yukon Denali XL. But there are surprises: Georgia, for instance, seems to have a thing for Nissan Leaf. "Georgia had very, very strong incentives to buy electric vehicles," says Libby, referencing the fact that until very recently, the Peach State offered $5,000 in state tax credits (in addition to $7,500 in federal tax credits) to anyone who boughtan electric vehicle. In other words, everyone who bough a Nissan Leaf in Georgia saved themselves a cool $12,500.

"The data does reveal interesting patterns," says Libby. "And because based on registration data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, it's census data. It's not sample based. It's not something where I think it's this, you think it's that. It's hard data. It's irrefutable." In other words: if you're not pleased with your state's unofficial state car, blame your neighbors, not the numbers."

Click to expand...

I considered a Tesla model S for a short time because the incentives were so high. But even a base model was too high. Plus I go on road trips and trust me, there aren't any charging stations in south georgia along the way.

I considered a Tesla model S for a short time because the incentives were so high. But even a base model was too high. Plus I go on road trips and trust me, there aren't any charging stations in south georgia along the way.